XVI International Botanical Congess

Rasna is an important medicinal plant which is widely used in indigenous system of medicine (Ayurveda) for rheumatism and allied disorders, diseases of the abdomen, dyspepsia, bronchitis and inflammations. It has been observed that more than one species of plants have been referred to under the name Rasna due to large number of regional languages in India. With this in mind, the present work was undertaken to study and differentiate the following plants which are known as Rasna in India viz. Alpinia galanga, Alpinia officinarum, Inula racemosa, Pluchea lanceolata and Vanda roxburghii. Following pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies were carried out on these five plants: estimation of phytoconstituents, microscopical characteristics, mineral elemental analysis, fluorescence analysis, fluorescence quenching, HPTLC fingerprinting.Dr. C. I. Jolly